Machine fob separating and feeding



Feb. 4, 1941. w. w. DAVIDSON MACHINE FOR SEPARATING AND FEEDING BIANKS Original Filed June 18, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 yzasolz I I W y Feb. 4, 1941. w. w. DAVIDSON Re. 21,707

MACHINE FOR SEPARATING AND FEEDING BLANKS Original Filed June 18, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 jzaewZgr 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 W. W. DAVIDSON MACHINE FOR SEPARATING AND FEEDING BLANKS Original Filed June 18. 1951 Feb. 4, 1941.

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Reissued Feb. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE William Ward Davidson, Evanston, Ill.

Original No. 1,963,894, dated June, 19, 1934, Serial No. 545,214, June 18, 1931.

Application for reissue Jill! 1, 1939, Serial No. 282,499

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This invention relates to machines for separating and feeding blanks of the general type comprising a vertically movable pack carriage, blank separating means adapted for withdrawing blanks from the top of a pack supported on said carriage, means for raising and lowering said pack carriage including power means for raising the same, and means for rendering said power raising means inactive when the top of m the pack attains a predetermined level relative to the blank separating means.

As shown, the pack carriage raising and lowering mechanism of the present application is substantially a reproduction of detail of the means 3 fully shown in United States Letters Patent No.

1,613,984, dated January 11, 1927.

The machine of said prior Patent No. 1,613,984, however, comprises a vertically movable separator unit, and in accordance with the disclosure :0 of said patent, the means for rendering the power means for raising said pack carriage inactive, is controlled directly by vertical movement of said separator unit.

The machine of the present application, how- !I ever, has no part or element corresponding to the vertically movable separator unit of said prior patent, and the object of the present invention is to provide an improved means, such as shown in United States' Letters Patent No. 1,627,015.

so issued to me May 3, 1927, for rendering the power raising means inactive when the top of the pack attains a predetermined level, controlled by movement of a vertically movable follower, which forms no part of the blank separating means,

35 such movement being produced by contact of said follower with the top of the pack when approaching the designed upper limit of its movement during which said vertically movable follower rides upon the top of the pack, preferably 9 in close proximity to the point where the blank separating means engages the blanks.

The follower is oscillated vertically by a means provided for the purpose-either manually or by power-independently of stack movement. The

5 follower, after being raised each time above the stack, is increasingly limited in its downward movement by the top of the stack as the top of the stack rises. while upon downward movement of the follower past a predetermined point, this limiting of the follower grows less and less as the level of the pack is loweredeither suddenly by the manually operated means, or gradually as blanks are fed from the top of the pack in operation.

55 To effect the objects of the invention, the

means for rendering the power means for raising the pack carriage inactive, comprises the various features, combinations of features and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed. In the accompanying drawings, in which the 6 invention is fully illustrated:

Fig. l is a fragmentary elevation of the right side of a blank separating machine embodying my invention and improvements, as viewed from the left side of said figure Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view. partly in section, from the position indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, on which, also, the section is taken;

Fig. 3 is a. fragmentary perspective view;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the machine substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view substantially from the position 5-! of Fig. 4.

As regards the means for separating the blanks from a pack of blanks supported on the carriage, the machine shown in the drawings is a usual type of suction feeder, of which there are several different makes which may be purchased commercially, and which will be readily understood by persons familiar with such feeders from an examination of the drawings, without a description thereof in detail.

Accordingly, as the invention of the present application relates only to the means for actuating and controlling movement of the pack carriage, parts and features of the machine not germane to the present invention, have been, for

' the most part, entirely omitted or, if shown at all, are shown diagrammatically, thus avoiding confusion and unnecessary description and rendering the description of the invention covered by the application clear and definite.

Describing my invention with particular reference to the drawings, a designates one of the side frames of the machine.

The pack of blanks to be separated and fed, designated B, and the top of which is indicated by the line b, Fig. 1. is supported upon a carriage, designated as a whole C, comprising side frame members, one of which is shown at c Fig. 4, and which are rigidly connected by transverse rods, i, 2 and I, and brackets 4 supported on the rods i and 3 so as to be adjustable towards and from each other, and which are adapted to be secured in adjusted positions on said rods by set screws threaded through bosses on said brackets in line with the supporting red I.

The pack of blanks B rests directly upon a. board 5, which is preferably removable, and 5| which, in use, is supported on arms 6 forming parts of the brackets 4, the plane of the top sides of said bracket arms and the board 5 being substantially horizontal, whereby the pack of blanks will be supported flatwise and in substantially horizontal position.

The pack carriage C is bodily movable vertically, being confined and guided in its vertical movement by engagement of rigid parts thereof with guide bearings on the side frame members a. In the preferable construction shown, see Fig. 4, vertically spaced roller studs project from the outer sides of the pack carriage C and engage guide grooves 8 formed in the adjacent sides of said frame members a.

The pack carriage C is supported by means of chain belts 9 connected thereto and which pass over sprocket wheels ill secured to a shaft H rotatabiy mounted in bearings in the side frame members a. The free ends of said chain belts hang free and weights l2 are preferably suspended therefrom, adapted to prevent jumping of said chain belts, which would cause disengagement thereof from the teeth of the sprocket wheels Hi.

The pack carriage C is adapted to be raised both manually and by power, but can be lowered manually only.

As shown, see particularly Fig. 1, the power means for raising said pack supporting carriage is as follows: Rotatably mounted in bearings in the frame members a of the machine is a shaft l3 to which oscillating movement is imparted in operation by a lever arm l4'secured thereto, said lever arm being connected by a rod IS with a driven part of the machine to which said blank' separating and feed machine is applied in use. Also, to provide for stopping the separating and feeding mechanism without stopping the machine to which it is applied, said lever arm I4 preferably is mounted on the rock shaft l3 so as to turn thereon and is adapted to be secured thereto and disconnected therefrom by means of a suitable clutch. However, said clutch forms no part of my present invention and need not, therefore, be either shown or described herein.

The power means for driving the shaft H also comprises a ratchet gear, designated as a whole D, so constructed and arranged that oscillation of the shaft I3 will impart step-by-step rotation to said shaft II in a direction to raise the pack carriage C. As shown, said ratchet gear comprises a ratchet wheel I6 mounted to turn on the shaft l3, secured to rotate with which is a pinion I! which meshes with a gear I'B secured to the shaft ll. Step-by-step rotation is adapted to be imparted to the ratchet wheel l8 by the thrust or throw of an actuating pawl i9 pivoted to a stud 20 secured in the free end of a frame 2| pivoted to the shaft l3.

Said pawl I9 is maintained yieldingiy in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel l6 by a spring 22, opposite ends of which are connected to pins 23 and 24, securedin said pawl and in the pawl carrying frame 2|, respectively.

As shown, the ratchet wheel I6 is prevented from turning backwards-which would lower the pack carriage C-by a retaining pawl 25 pivoted to a stud 25 secured in the frame member a on which the ratchet gear D is mounted. The retaining pawl 25 is maintained yieldingiy in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel I6 by a spring 21, opposite ends of which are attached to us 28 and 29 secured, respectively, in the oute end of said retaining pawl and in the frame member a of the machine.

ing pawl is pivoted, as said arm 32 oscillates with the shaft l3.

When free to respond thereto, the pawl-carrying frame 2ltogether with the pawl 19 mounted thereonis adapted to be maintained yieldingiy at the advance limit of its throw and to be moved to take a new purchase upon the ratchet at each feeding cycle, after which forward movement of the tappet 3| on the oscillating rock arm 32 against the surfaces '33 on said pawl-carrying frame moves the ratchet rotated by the pawl to the pawl's advance limit as follows: Pivoted to the frame member a at 34 is a lever d, one end of which is connected with said pawl-carrying frame by a rod 35. As shown, said rod is pivotally connected to both said lever and frame, the means for connecting said rod to the lever (1 preferably being constructed and arranged for adiusting the operative length of said rod. As shown said rod 33 has a hook 36 on its lower end fitted to turn in a bearing in the frame 2|, and the upper end of said rod extends through a hole formed in a stud 31 pivotally mounted in a hearing on the lever d.

To provide for varying the operative length of said rod 35, its upper end is screw-threaded and nuts 38 and 39 are adjusted thereto on opposite sides of the stud 31, the sides of which against which said nuts bear being flattened, as shown. For convenience, the nut 38 is preferably a thumb nut.

The pawl I9 and frame 2| are yieldingiy held at the limit of their throw by the weight of the frame 2| and rod 35 and the tension of the spring 22 holding the pawl against any particular tooth in the ratchet wheel It. This relationship of the parts is overcome and the pawl moved to take a new purchase when the lever d is actuated clockwise as viewed in Fig. l.

Clockwise actuation of the lever d is accomplished in the following manner: Secured to a trunnion 4i rotatably mounted in a bearing formed in a bracket 42 secured to a bar 43 supported in fixed position on the machine frame, is a lever arm, 44 formed on the free end of which is a lateral projection 45 which is adapted to rest on the end of the arm of the lever d remote from the stud 31 and pivoted to the frame member a of the machine adjacent the rock arm 32 is a bell-crank-lever e, comprising arms 46 and 41, the arm 46 thereof being connected to the lever arm 44 by a link 48, and a roller 49 being rotatably mounted on the arm 41 thereof in position to project into the path of movement of 3 that except as prevented and controlled by the cam 50 and the top of the stack, the tension of the spring 40, acting through its described connections will move the lever arm 44 to turn the lever d in a direction to move the pawl-carrying frame 2| to take a new purchase, after which, upon advancement of the rock arm 32 from its retracted position shown in Fig. l. the tappet 3! on said rock arm, by contact with the surfaces 33 on said pawl-carrying frame will operate to advance said frame and, through engagement of the pawl II with the teeth of the ratchet wheel IE, will turn the shaft I! in a direction to raise the pack carriage C.

In the operation of the machine, blanks supported upon the pack carriage C are adapted to be withdrawn from the top of the pack one at a time, when the top of the pack is substantially at the level indicated by the line b, by means of suction feet, one of which is indicated diagrammatically at N, Figs. 3 and 4, to which, in operation, oscillating movement is imparted from the position indicated in full linesin which it will engage the top blank of the pack Bto the position shown in dotted lines-in which the separated blank is raised and advanced between the feed or pull-out rolls and It, rotation being imparted to said rolls in a direction to withdraw blanks delivered to them by said suction feet by suitable means, usually by operating connection with a driven part of the machine to which the feeder is applied.

Per se, said blank separating means forms no part of the present invention and, as suction devices suitable for the purpose and actuating means therefor and other details of the installation, are well known and can readily be supplied by skilled mechanics, they are not, therefore, either shown or described in detail.

To effect the object of the invention as it relates to rendering the power means for raising the pack carriage inactive when the top of the pack 8 attains a predetermined level-preferably the level at which the blank separating means will operate most effectively, indicated approximately by the line b, Figs. 1 and 4 my improved feeder comprises means for increasingly limiting turning movement of the lever d by the spring 40, as the level of the pack B approaches said predetermined level, thus correspondingly limiting the purchase of the pawl-carrying frame II, and thus of the pawl I, the relation being such that when said predetermined level is attained, movement of said pawl will be less than the pitch of the teeth of the ratchet wheel ll, thus causing said pawl to idle" until the top of a pack again falls below the level of the line b, either by lowering the pack carriage bodily by hand, or by feeding blanks from the top of the pack in the regular operation of the feeder.

In the preferable construction shown, the means for thus determining pivotal movement of the lever :1 consists of a member or follower 56, supported above the pack carriage C in position to contact with the pack supporting surface thereof or with the top of a pack of blanks supported thereon, preferably as closely adjacent as practicable to the point at which the suction foot 53 engages the topmost blank of the pack supported on said pack carriage. As shown, said follower It consists of a rod or bar which extends transversely across the machine above the pack carriage in the relation specified, said follower being supported at the ends of arms ll, one secured to the trunnion II and the other to a corresponding trunnion ll similarly mounted at the opposite side of the machine, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

As shown, the bar It and the supporting arms I! are formed from an integral piece of wire of a size to provide adequate strength, the ends of which are bent substantially at right angles, said bent over ends being inserted through holes formed in the inner ends of the trunnions Ii, 4| and secured therein by set screws 58, the relation being such that said follower II will contact with the top of the pack B in desired proximity to the suction feet It at the point at which they engage the topmost blank of the pack.

The normal position of the control bar or follower is considerably below the predetermined level indicated by the line b at which the pawl I59 will become inactive, said follower being maintained yieldingly in such normal position by the tension of the spring 40, and its position of extreme depression being defined by contact of the roller 48 on the bell-crank lever e with the cam ll.

With the described construction, it is obvious that the raising movement of the pack carriage after the pack supporting surface thereof or the top of a pack of blanks supported thereon, contacts with the follower 5!, will operate to raise the dropping limit of said follower, which, in turn, through its supporting arms 51, will operate to turn the trunnions Ii, Ii less and less and will inhibit the lever 44 to lessen the driving power of lever upon lever d so that lever at will proportionately movethe pawl to assume a new position of correct purchase. The described movement of said follower 56 and of the parts actuated thereby-either directly or indirectly-continue until movement of the pawl-carrying frame ii is less than the pitch of the teeth of the ratchet wheel l6, which, as heretofore explained will render the actuating pawl I9 inactive and will prevent further raising movement 01' the pack carriage by the power raising means.

Obviously, such raising movement of the follower 56 will also operate to turn the bell-crank lever e pivotally to retract the roller 49 mounted thereon from the face of the cam 50, the relation being such, however, that said roller will be positioned in the path of movement of the operating face of said cam as the lever arm 32 advances on its operating stroke, and will turn the bell-crank lever e pivotally in a direction to raise said follower it from contact with the top of the pack B, thus eliminating all resistance to withdrawn] of blanks from said pack due to the pressure of said follower 55 produced by the spring I. Preferably, said cam will be timed so that said follower 56 will -be entirely above and clear of the blanks as they are raised by the initial raising action of the suction feet 53 in the feeding operation. This is particularly important in the case of blanks of such stiffness that if held down by the pressure of said member, there would be danger of breaking the suction which holds them in engagement with said suction feet I8, which, at each occurrence, would result in failure to feed a blank.

Raising of the follower 56 as blanks are withdrawn, is also important for the reason that thereby all frictional resistance to withdrawal of blanks, due to the pressure of said follower, is

eliminated, thus further insuring against failure to feed.

An important advantage arising from the intermittent pressure imposed on the pack of blanks B by oscillation of the follower 56, as described is that it produces a flow of air admitted between the uppermost blanks of the pack away from said follower as it is depressed, which will tend to break adhesions between said blanks and will further insure against failure to feed and "double" feeding.

What is claimed is:

1. In a blank separating machine of the class described having a vertically movable pack carriage, a vertically movable follower supported above the carriage and normally urged to contact the feed end of the stack, an oscillating member, a ratchet and a pivoted pawl-carrying frame moved by the oscillating member to the end limit of its throw for raising the carriage towards the follower, the pawl being normally positioned at said limit, means operated by the follower when the follower moves towards the stack for moving the pawl-carrying frame from its normal position a distance proportional to the distance the follower travels below a predetermined point, and means actuated by the oscillating member upon the first part of its stroke for lifting the follower from contact with the stack to release the top blank and forv releasing said pawl moving means.

2. In a blank separating machine of the class described having a vertically movable pack carriage, a vertically movable follower moved normally to contact the feed end of the stack, an oscillating member, a ratchet and a pawl-carrying frame actuated by the oscillating member to advance the pawl to the limit of its throw for moving the carriage towards the follower. the

pawl being normally positioned at said limit, a

rotatable member supporting the follower above the carriage, a lever arm secured to the rotatable member, means actuated by the oscillating member for oscillating the lever arm to raise and lower the follower, a pivoted lever actuated by the lever am said pawl-carrying frame being driven by the pivoted lever to move the pawl from its normal position upon the downward movement of the follower with increasingly limited movement as the top of the stack rises.

3. In a blank separating machine of the class described having a vertically movable pack carrlage, a rotatable member and a supporting arm at each side of the machine, a vertically movable follower supported above the carriage by said supporting arms and normally urged to contact the feed end of the stack at a plurality of points throughout the width of the carriage, an oscillating member, a ratchet and a pawl-carrying frame actuated by the oscillating member to advance the pawl to the limit of its throw for moving the carriage towards the follower, the pawl being normally positioned at said limit, a lever secured to one of said rotatable members, means actuated by the oscillating member for oscillating the lever arm to raise and lower the follower, a pivoted lever actuated by the lever arm, a connection between the pivoted lever and the pawl-carrying frame to move the pawl from its normal position upon the downward movement of the follower with increasingly limited movement when the top of the stack rises.

4. In a blank separating machine of the class described having a vertically movable pack carriage, a vertically movable follower moved normally to contact the feed end of the stack, an oscillating member, a ratchet and a pawl-carrying frame actuated by the oscillating element to move the pawl to the limit of its throw for raising the carriage towards the follower the pawl being normally positioned at said limit, a rotatable member supporting the follower above the carriage, a lever armsecured to the rotatable member, means actuated by the oscillating memberforoscillatlngtbeleverarmtoraise and lower the follower, a pivoted lever actuated by the lever arm, a connection between the pivoted lever and the pawl-carrying frame to move the pawl from its normal position upon the downward movement of the follower with increasingly limited movement as the top of the stack rises, and means for varying the operative length of the connection between the pivoted lever and the pawl-carrying frame.

5. In a blank separating machine of the class described having a vertically movable pack carriage, a vertically movable follower moved normally to contact the feed end of the stack, an oscillating member, a ratchet and a pawlcarrying frame actuated by the oscillatin element to move the pawl to the limit of its throw for raising the carriage towards the follower, the pawl being normally positioned at said limit, a rotatable member supporting the follower above the carrlage, a lever arm secured to the rotatable member, means actuated by the oscillating member for oscillating the lever arm to raise and lower the follower, a pivoted lever actuated by the lever arm, a rod pivoted to the pawl-carrying frame. a stud pivoted to said pivoted lever provided with a hole through which the rod extends, nuts threaded to said rod at opposite sides of said stud and between which said stud is clamped, said rod and stud assembly moving the pawl from its normal position upon the downward movement of the follower with increasingly limited movement as the top of the stack rises.

8. In a blank separating machine of the class described having a vertically movable pack carriage, a vertically movable follower moved normally to contact the feed end of the stack, an oscillating member, a ratchet and a pawl-carrying frame actuated by the oscillating member to move the pawl to the limit of its throw for raising the carriage towards the follower, the pawl being normally positioned at said limit, a rotatable member supporting the follower above the carriage, a leverarm secured to the rotatable member, means actuated by the oscillating member for raising the follower above the top of the pack during withdrawal of blanks therefrom and to lower the follower against the pack, a pivoted lever actuated by the lever arm and driving the pawl-carrying frame to move the pawl from its normal position upon the downward movement of the follower with increasingly limited movement as the top of the stack rises.

7. In a blank separating machine of the class described. having a vertically movable pack carriage, a vertically movable follower moved normally to contact the feed end of the stack, an oscillating member, a ratchet and a pawl-carrying frame actuated by the oscillating element to move the pawl to the limit of its threw for raising the carriage towards the follower, the pawl being normally positioned at said limit, a rotatable member supporting the follower above the carriage, a lever arm secured to the rotatable member, a pivoted bell-crank lever, a cam carried by the oscillating member for advancing the pawl-carrying frame and arranged to engage one end of the bell-crank lever, a link connecting the other arm of the bell-crank lever with the lever arm on the rotatable member for raising the follower-T. above the top of the pack during withdrawal of blanks therefrom. a pivoted lever actuated by the lever arm, means carried by the pivoted lever for moving the pawl-carrying frame in a direction opposite to its throw, a spring applied to the bell-crank lever to oppose the action of the cam, the relation being such that when the lever arm is lowered by the spring upon the release of the cam the lever arm will actuate the pivoted lever to move the pawl-carrying frame towards the oscillating member a distance corresponding to the distance the follower moves past a predetermined point upon its downward movement.

8. In a blank separating machine of the class described having a vertically movable pack carriage, a vertically movable follower moved normally to contact the feed end of the stack, an oscillating member, a ratchet and a pawl-carrying frame actuated by the oscillating element to move the pawl to the limit of its throw for raising the carriage towards the follower, a rotatable member supporting the follower above the carriage, a lever arm secured to the rotatable member, a pivoted bell-crank lever, a cam carried by the oscillating member for advancing the pawlcarrying frame and arranged to engage one end of the bell-crank lever, a link connecting the other arm of the bell-crank lever with the lever arm on the rotatable member for raising the follower above the top of the pack during withdrawal of blanks therefrom, a pivoted lever actuated by the lever arm, means carried by the pivoted lever for moving the pawl-carrying frame in a direction opposite its throw, a spring applied to the bell-crank lever to oppose the action of the cam, the relation being such that when the lever arm is lowered by the spring upon the release of the cam the lever arm will actuate the pivoted lever to move the pawl-carrying frame towards the oscillating member a distance corresponding to the distance the follower moves past a predetermined point upon its downward movement. said spring providing the motive force by which the lever arm aetuates the pivoted lever.

9. In a blank separating machine of the class described having a vertically movable pack carriage, a vertically movable follower supported above the carriage and normally urged to contact with the feed end of the stack, an oscillating member, a ratchet and a pivoted pawl-carrying frame moved by the oscillating member to the end limit of its throw for raising the carriage towards the follower, the pawl being normally positioned at said limit, means positively driven by the follower when the follower moves towards the stack for driving the pawl-carrying frame from its normal position in relation to the degree of throw of the follower, and means actuated by the oscillating member upon the first part of its stroke for lifting the follower from contact with the stack independently of the pawl movement to release the top blank and for releasing said positive drive relation to enable the return of said frame to its end limit by said oscillating means.

10. In a blank se ating machine of the class described having a vertically movable pack carriage, a vertically movable follower arm supported above the carriage, spring means normally urging the follower am into contact with the feed end of the stack, an oscillating member, a ratchet and a pivoted pawl-carrying frame moved by the oscillating member to the terminal limit of its threw for raising the carriage towards the follower arm, the pawl being normally positioned at said limit, a pawl control lever for moving the pawl-carrying frame from its normal position, a drive engagement between the follower arm and the pawl control lever by which the follower arm by the pressure of the spring means drives the pawl control lever on its downward movement with an increasingly limited movement as the top of the stack rises, and means actuated by the oscillating member upon the first part 'of its stroke for lifting the follower from contact with the stack to release the top blank and for releasing said pawl moving member.

11. In a blank'separating machine of the class described having a vertically movable pack carriage, a vertically movable follower extending across the top of the pack and moved normally towards the stack, an oscillating member, a ratchet and a pawl-carrying frame the start of whose throw is within the throw of the oscillating member, the throw of the pawl moving the carriage towards the follower and the pawl being normally positioned at the end limit of its throw, a rotatable means driven by the follower, means actuated by the oscillating member to raise and lower the follower, a. pivoted lever actuated by the rotatable means, a connectionbetween the pivoted lever and the pawl-carrying frame to move the pawl from its normal position upon the downward movement of the follower with increasingly limited movement as the top of the stack rises.

12, In a blank separating machine of the class described having a vertically movable pack carriage, a vertically movable follower supported above the carriage, means normally urging the follower towards the stack, an oscillating membet, a ratchet and a pivoted pawl-carrying frame moved by the oscillating member to the end limit of its throw for raising the carriage towards the follower, the pawl being normally positioned at said limit, a pawl control lever for moving the pawl-carrying frame from its normal position, means actuated by the oscillating member for raising the follower above the top of the pack during withdrawal of blanks therefrom and to lower the follower against the pack preliminary to the next withdrawal to contact the top of the pack and the pawl control lever for moving the control lever to a point comparable to the height of the stack, said means releasing said pawl moving member upon the upward movement of the follower.

13. In a blank separating machine of the class described having a vertically movable pack carriage, a pack follower extending across the pack and supported above the carriage upon both sides of the machine, spring means normally urging the follower into contact with the stack, an oscillating member, a, ratchet, a pivoted pawl-carrying frame moved by the oscillating member to the end limit of its throw for actuating the ratchet to move the carriage towards the follower, the pawl being normally positioned at said limit, means for moving the pawl-carrying frame from its normai position, means actuated by the oscillating member for raising and permitting the follower to lower, and means engaged by the actu ated means to move the pawl to the beginning of its throw when the follower is lowered and to release the pawl when raised, said follower releasing the top blank for withdrawal when raised.

14. In a blank separating machine of the class described having a vertically movable pack carriage, a vertically movable follower moved normally to contact the feed end of the stack, an oscillating member, a ratchet and a pawl-carrylng frame actuated by the oscillating member to Gil advance the pawl to the limit of its throw for moving the carriage towards the follower, the pawl being normally positioned at said limit, a rotatable member supporting the follower above the carriage, a lever arm secured to the rotatable member, means actuated by the oscillating member for oscillating the lever arm to raise and lower the follower, a pivoted lever, a driving engagement between the pivoted lever and the lever arm by which the pivoted lever is actuated upon downward movement of the lever arm, a drive connection between the pivoted lever and the pawl-carrying frame to move the pawl from its normal position upon the downward movement of the follower with increasingly limited movement as the top of the stack rises.

15. In a blank separating machine of the class described having a vertically movable pack carriage, a pack follower extending across the pack and supported above the carriage upon both sides of the machine, spring means normally urging the follower into contact with the stack, an oscillating member, a ratchet, a pivoted pawlcarrying frame moved by the oscillating member to the end limit of its throw for actuating the ratchet to move the carriage towards the follower, the pawl being normally positioned at said limit, means for moving the pawl-carrying frame from its normal position under the pressure of said spring means, means actuated by the oscillating member for raising the follower above the said level of the stack and permitting the follower to fall, and means engaged by the actuated means to move the pawl to the beginning of its throw when the follower fallsand to release the pawl when raised, said follower releasing the top blank for withdrawal when raised.

16. In a blank separating machine of the class described having a vertically movable pack carrlage, a follower supported above the carriage, means urging the follower towards the stack, an oscillating member, a ratchet, a pivoted pawlcarrying frame moved by the oscillating member through its throw for actuating the ratchet to raise the carriage towards the follower, the pawl being normally positioned where the oscillating member leaves it, means drivlngly operated by the follower when the follower is lowered for moving the pawl-carrying frame from its normal position, and means actuated by the oscillating member upon the first part of its strol e for lifting the follower from contact with the stack to release the top blank and for freeing said pawl moving means from the control of the follower 17. In a blank separating machine of the class described having a vertically movable pack carriage, a follower supported above the carriage and means normally urging the follower into contact with the stack, an oscillating member, a ratchet, a pivotally mounted pawl moved by a one way drive engagement with the oscillating member to the end of its throw for raising the carriage towards the follower, the pawl resting in the position imposed upon it by the oscillating member, means having a one way engagement with the follower when the follower moves towards the stack for positively driving the pawl from its normal position, and means actuated by the oscillating member for lifting the follower from contact with the stack to release the top blank.

18. In a blank separating machine of the class described having a vertically movable pack carriage,-a vertically movable follower supported to be located above the carriage and normally urged to contact the top of the stack, an oscillating member, a ratchet and a pivoted pawlcarrying frame moved by the oscillating memher to the and limit of its throw for raising the carriage towards the follower, the pawl being normally positioned at said limit, means positive- 1y driven with the direct drive by the follower when the follower moves towards the stack for moving the pawl-carrying frame from its normal position, and means actuated by the oscillating member upon the first part of its stroke for lifting the follower from contact with the stack to release the top blank and for freeing said pawlmoving means from the direct drive to permit said oscillating member to move the pawl-carrying frame again to said end limit of its throw.

19. In a blank separating machine of the class described having a vertically moving pack carriage, a vertically movable follower supported above the carriage, and normally urged to contact the feed end of the stack, an oscillating member, a ratchet and a pivoted pawl-carrying frame moved by the oscillating member to the end limit of its throw for raising the carriage towards the follower, the pawl being normally positioned at said end limit, means positively driven by the follower when the follower moves toward the stack and adjustable to vary the action of the follower upon said means as regards the level of the stack at which the follower is effective to drive said driven means for moving the pawl-carrying frame from its normal position within the throw of said oscillating member a distance in proportion to the distance the follower has to travel below a predetermined point.

20. In a blank separating machine of the class described having a vertically movable pack carriage, a rotatable member and a supporting arm at each side of the machine supported for pivotal movement about an axis parallel and transverse to the pack carriage, a vertically movable follower supported above the carriage by said supporting arms for movement about said axis and normally urged to contact the feed end of the stack at any one of a plurality of points, an oscillating member, a ratchet and a pawl-carrying frame actuated by the oscillating member to advance the pawl to the limit of its throw for moving the carriage towards the follower, the pswlbeing normally positioned at said limit, a lever'secured to one of said rotatable members, means actuated by the oscillating member for oscillating the lever arm to raise and lower the follower, a pivoted lever actuated by the lever arm, a connection between the pivoted lever and the pawl-carrying frame to move the pawl from its normal position upon the downward movement of the follower with increasingly limited movement when the top of the stack rises.

WIILIAM WARD DAVIDSON.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Reissue No. 21,707, February 11., 1914.1.

WILLIAM WARD DAVIDSON It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction es'follows Page 6, sec-- 0nd column, line 11;, claim 18-, for the words "with the direct read --with a direct-; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this corn the rection therein that the same may conform to the record of the case 1 Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 11th day of March, A. D. 19141.

Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seal) Acting s ioner of Patents 

